Tree-prop



(No Model.)

H. B. COLE.

TREE PROP.

Patented Feb. 22, 1887';

, sections by a central cross-bar. 4o

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. COLE, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

TREE-PROP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,017, dated February 22, 1887.

Application filed November 8, ISSG. Serial No. 218,258.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I. HENRY B. COLE, a resident ofRiverside, Cali foruia,havc made certain new and useful Improvements in Tree- Props, a description of which is set forth in the fol lowing specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like letters refer to like parts.

My invention relates to the construction of tree-props made in sections, one section slidin g by the other, and adjustable at any desired length within the total length of the two sections, and will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of my device with the upper section lifted to about the middle of the lower section. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same, showing the manner in which the lock is secured by a hinge bearing against the back of the lower section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a part of the two poles and a transverse section of the lock and hinge, showing the position of the parts when the lock is loosened for an adjustment as to length. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the parts locked in position. Fig. 5 is a top view of the device looking downward. Fig. 6 is a side view of the elastic and flexible fork connected to the top of the pole, the dotted lines indicating the position of the parts when the weight of the bough resting upon the fork draws the two sides of the fork closer together and depresses the flexible baud upon which the bough rests. The last four figures are on a larger scale than the first two.

The prop is made of two sections, 1 and 2. To the upper portion of the lower section, 2, is attached a metal lock, Z, divided into two open The hind bar of this lock is round, and has bearings in the loop of the hinge h, which is secured to the back of and at the upper end of the lower section of the prop, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

g is a guide, made of any suitable material, which is U-shaped, and is bolted at its open end to the sides ofthe upper section, 1, of the prop, and at the lower end. thereof, as shown in Fig. 1.

A fork is secured to the top of the upper section, and in this fork the tree-branch which (No model.)

is intended to be propped is allowed to rest. It consists of the curved parts 3 and at, which are made of a thin elastic metal, secured to the sides of the upper portion of the prop, and at the top of these are links, through which the flexible band f is passed, forming the top of the fork. This band is made either of webbing, leather, or rubber, or any other soft and flexible material which will form a sort of cushion for the bough and not bruise or out the bark. The weight of the bough resting upon the band depresses it and draws the elastic sides 3 and 4 of the fork together, holding the bough firmly in place, the parts then taking the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 6. This sort of a fork is the only one that can be used successfully in supporting the boughs of the tenderer portions of such fruit-trees as the orange and lemon, the ordinary solid fork being too rigid and hard, and liable to bruise and injure the boughsthatrest therein. By my construction I avoid any such danger.

The upper section, 1, is passed. through the outer opening in the lock Zand allowed to move up and down freely therein, and as it moves it carries the guide g, which is bolted to its lower end, and in the outer portion of this guide the lower section, 2, is passed and moves up and down therein freely, carrying with it the lock Z, which is secured to the upper end of the lower section at the hinge h.

WVhen the lock is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3-that is to say, substantially at right angles to the line of the section 2, to which it is attached-the upper section, 1, may be freely moved up and down, and the prop may thus be lengthened or shortened, as desired. Vhen the proper length has been determined, by letting go of the section 1, the lock Zdrops down upon its bearing in the hinge h, taking the position shown in Fig. 4, and the sides of the upper section will then bear against the diagonally-opposite corners of the crossbars of thelock Z, preventing any further movement of either section until the lock is thrown up again in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The two parts of the prop are not quite parallel with each other, the upper standing at an angle to the lower when the device is in use.

I am aware that extension-poles composed of two or more sliding sections are not new, and do not broadly claim the same as my invention.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. A tree-prop composed of an upper section, 1, having the fork 3 4, with flexible band f, the loop-guideg, fastened near its lower end, the lower section, 2, having the lock 1, secured IO near its upper end by means of the hinge 71,

the lock provided with two compartments, in the outer one of which the upper section of the prop moves freely, all combined and arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. A tree-prop composed of two sections adapted to'slide one by the other and at an angle to each other, a guide connected to the upper section, a lock connected to the lower section, and a hinge which provides abearing 

